It's a phrase with new meaning for me, in these last few days of my 13-month campaign for the open Commissioner # 1 seat on the Portland City Council. I am grateful for every person who has given me encouragement and practical assistance, one-time or long term. Recently:

* The volunteers who packed our office, two weekends earlier in October, before they walked neighborhoods in NW, SW, North, inner NE, outer NE, inner SE, and outer SE, delivering literature to doorsteps.

* The man who when he saw me with my team waving on the corner of SE 39th and Powell, drove around the block to tell me he voted for me.

* The Precision Sticker Sticking Team, amending thousands of pieces of literature to add information about new endorsements and upcoming public appearances in specific neighborhoods. Each time I hand out literature with a sticker customizing the piece, I remember the helping hands working behind the scenes to make our outreach up-to-date and accurate. I am proud that we used up literature left over from earlier in the campaign. I'm pleased that it wasn't wasted, and also that my core message has stayed consistent and is even more relevant in today's tightening economy.

* Strangers who are no longer strangers, because you've stopped in your busy day to send me a note of encouragement, or ask a question via email.

* Community leaders and interest groups who are willing to suspend disbelief, and give me the chance to prove that I might be different from the politicians who ask for meetings before the election, then don't come back until re-election races loom. People who are open to finding out if what they've read or heard about me is actually who I am. Folks who recognize that I am open to learning new information and revising my opinions in response, and who value that approach to figuring out solutions to complex problems.

* The PSU student who made a point to tell me after the debate there on Friday, that I won his vote with my answer, "I don't know, I'm not familiar with that program, I'll find out more and get back to you". And who then agreed to give my contact information to those working on the project in the question.

* Everyone who smiles, honks, waves, gestures with digits other than the middle, or yells "I voted for you!" when we are waving to passersby at intersections. It was especially fun to see a driver roll down his window and show he was wearing my button, while waving at NE 82nd/Glisan yesterday.

* Supporters who came to debates featuring the candidates for City Council, wearing Amanda buttons. You already know who you're voting for, and you gave your time to smile encouragement to me, and to talk with your neighbors in the audience.

* Audience members at those debates, who came up to me afterwards to tell me, "You won my vote". After sitting for extended periods, and listening to answers that can be dry and wonky, the natural instinct might be to buzz off home as quickly as possible. It was kind of you to let me know that my effort to give clear, constructive answers was noted and helpful.

* The Cathedral School parent who re-introduced himself in the elevator of a downtown office tower, saying, "You gained a lot of friends when you came to our forum and hit the ball out of the park in the primary." I liked hearing that, of course, but even more, his comment reminded me of the enthusiastic little girls who treated me like a rock star at that event. Candidates Gone Wild notwithstanding, I am not a rock star, nor do I want to be. I loved seeing the enthusiasm of young girls for a woman who is prepared to succeed in the male-dominated world of politics, and meeting students who clearly understand and value why civic engagement is important.

* Volunteers who help set up and staff Meet-and-Greet events all over Portland, and citizens who come to them with questions and suggestions.

* Amianne Delong, a woman who I last saw as a teenager in my girls' group at the Salvation Army 20 years ago, who stood smiling at me when I arrived at the St. Johns Booksellers Meet-and-Greet a few weeks ago. She'd received one of those stickered announcements of the event, and came to offer her support. Last night, she gathered dozens of her friends at a houseparty for me. So much encouragement there. "I already voted for you - I vote based on the Voters' Pamphlet, and your endorsements stand out." "I heard about you from a friend who is in a Poli-Sci class you spoke at. He says the students love you." "I heard you on KBOO, you make a lot of sense." "I work at the City, we need you because you pay attention to details and listen to workers." "I heard you at the City Club and decided to vote for you then."

All very encouraging, very much appreciated.

But I am also hearing from folks that sometimes they talk to some friends, and find they have never heard of me or my opponent. So let's keep working hard through November 4, kind Portlanders who want to see a new Commissioner in City Hall who will bring people together.

* Keep wearing your Amanda button.
* Sign up for a sign-waving shift next weekend.
* Stop by the office if you can find a location for one of the last remaining yard signs.
* Make some phone calls this afternoon, or send a supportive email to your friends, if those tasks haven't risen to the top of your To Do list before now.

I continue to need your help to win the election, just as I will continue to need your help to achieve the goals we share in City Hall. Help make my day on November 4. If all of us continue working as hard as humanly possible, hopefully it will be a good day for many, many Portlanders, Oregonians, and people across the country.